Means for dyeing fabrics



Nov. 4, 1958 E; w. SMITH 2,353,639

MEANS FOR DYEING FABRICS Filed March 17. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 :6 36 v I f? 39 27 28 o 35 [I I so 6 i 8 3.

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INVENTOR. Eawara #4577131 Nov. 4, 1958 E. w. SMITH MEANS FOR DYEING FABRICS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17. 1954 [awrd BY 3%.?

2,858,689 Patented Nov. 4, 1958 United States Patent-@fiice Edward W'. SmithpMeli-ose:I-IighlandspMirss; SSSi gIIOI'IOs L. Sc AdamsnEngineeringsCompany;-Boston,i Mass.

Applii'htion Mtirclf171954 Serial No. 41'6;850' 12 Claimsci; (Cl; 684499:

Thapresent inuentioirrrelates tora meansvforrdyeingv fabrics: int: the "open: width'cpandt moreiparticularlya tot-1a means for dyeingrzfabricsawhiclr utilizeszvibrational: energy;

It iSi an. object: of then presentl inventionuto1 provide a means :whereby the open: fabrictiwhi'le t immersede in adye bath-is subject to: high frequency squeezes in such away asnto force: the'zdye inzandiout' of: the fabricamateria'lc Another 'ObjeCUGf-C the present invention is tolprovidea means: for: dyeing open widthi'fahri'c by high frequency squeezing? on a continuousibasis 'in which "the fabric is drawnzcontinuou slythrou'gh t-he dy'e-vat'zi Another; object. ofi the present -invention i's '-toprovide adjustable means for controlling the" particular amount of pressure provided to squeeze the fabric, whichpressure may be adjustedto the be'st value for the particular goods being handled.

- In this invention, there is provided a- 'd'ye vat forcon-r taining' the; d'ye liq'uorwith atorsionally operatedrolljour naled :in the-vat at a' position normally below 'the levelof the diquom About this roll are positioned at-series -of par' 'allel pressure roller s designed to-press the' fa'brio against the torsionally operating wil as the *torsionally operating roll moves-the fabric-through the liquor with an oscillating motione 1 'I hissconstructictn and other objects "and'= advantages"-of the-present invention will be'more'fullyunderstood when considered 'inconnection with the-drawingsin which:

Figure 1 shows a somewhat schematic side sectional elevationrof'the-d'e-vice.

Figure 2' shows a fragmentary sectional elevation of 'a' detail including the torsionally operating 'roll taken from theopposite' sideof Figure-1".

Figure 3 shows a somewhat schematicen'd' view taken along-lines 3-3 =of-'Figure 1.

Figure4shows a sectional-view of a modificatiomand Figured is a fragmentary perspectivedetailof a portion of the modification shown in' Figure? 4.

An enclosed tank 1, preferablyioffstainless steel such as--is-'commonly' used 'inthteXtile industry, is provided for containing-the dye-liquor: The roller2'having flanged ends 3 and 4 is positioned'at'tlie' bottom'of 'this tank at a level; which-will normally be lowerthan'the level ofthe liquor- (see Figure 2) l This-roller 2"is'preferablyformed of 'a hollow =steeltube-'or pipe-and is secured at its flanged ends- 3' and 4 to'the flanges 5 and'6 respectively of the shafts Tand' sl T'h'eflanges and 5, and4ancl'6 which are in face to face relation, may be secured together by weld ing or' other suitable means: pass through-ithe' packing gland's ll' and'12 in the opposite end walls" and 11,- respectively ofthe tankil; These packingglands (see Figure 2)-are formedof annular rings 1'3' having a-flanged section -14 extending outwardly from through the flange 14, the wall of.'the tank',;andhanother' annular: ringsl7' omtheothe'r side of the wall. If. desired, a gasket181may: be provided between the ring-17 and the walk-10.

- It lwillibee noted thatthese 'packing 'gland constructions alsoserve as: bearings ifOB thexshafts .7' and 8. However separates-bearing members :may if desired-be mountedoutside of the. tanktossupp'ort the1roller.2-..

TheLsha-ftJSV-issecured to'ands operateds by a torsionallyosci llatingc d'rive'fsuch as is: shown in- United States r Patent Not 2',604,503;: so: as to insure: the controllable: torsional oscillatiomof'the' roll 2; The axle: 20 of this: drive ele ment'has a projecting-xerrdt=21fisuitablysecuredfito it and extending 'intcntheiopenz.tubillariend of the"hollow-shaft :8 (see Fi'gurerz), Thiss'haft: 8 isrsecure'd to'zth'e' memben 21 bynm'eans ef aiclampin'gcrin g 22 with aiseries of adjustable radialtboltsz'23zpassing throughit. A sleeve and collar24 an'd2e25i:'respectively are' alsoprovided abouttheaxle 20 of the drive element and serve to aid in securing theshaft 8z'toith'ezdrive member 21 A series": of pressurerollers 261 (see- Figure 3 preferably foun'iin'numb'er; as illustrated; are arranged symmetrically about; and parallel to; theiroller 2; Preferably two rollers 26 are i positioned: above and two rollers 'are positioned belo'vvitheiaxisi'oflshaftl These pressurei'roll'ers: 26 are support-ted atzeach end: 'oni' hafts 27 thesendsiof which fit intotia-ndiare:freely'11ota-tableiin bearings mounted in blocks 283'2 Thesef'blocks:aresupportledvin turn by a 'levenlink-i agez system which fwhenroperated will simultaneously move pairsrof pressureiroll'ers zfi toward or away from the roller 2.x Inothis construction': each: of the blocks 28 in which the upper. two ro'llersz26' are mounted :are in 'turn secured one "eachitorone'endlofi thefshort: levers 291- Each lever 29 is pivotally: secured to the wall offth'e tan'k by-"apin .30;

The oth'er-endfil of these: levers are each pivotally con nected to a rod '32. Also pivota'lly connected to the lower The axial-elements] and 8 the sha-ft's7 and8. These'annularrings13 areprovided wall of the "tankby nuts and bolts 16 with the bolts passing v end; of each'rod 32. isoneiend'i'ofl'an L-shaped lever. 33 whichzis in turn pivotally supported on the'wall'of the tanlc by a pin 34, Thevothe'r end of each; of? these L.- shaped leversris secured tonne ofthe blocks 28 supporting one end: of: one of: the lowerpa'ir ofi'rollers 26s: At the upper end of the rods 32"uare fixed" operating arm's 35 whichextend' out of thetankthrough' bearingielements 36. Ari-expansion'spring37 is positioned concentric with the endwof each of thesearrns 35 betweenithe'bearing element 36 and'aisecuring'orradjustable' nut 38. Thus in the'op oration of'this device, the four rollers-126 as shown here maybe adjusted sothatthey'wil'lzpress againstthe roller 2 with :uniformipressure;

Whenrrtheoperating iarm'ss35rare moved: outwardly of the? tank; therollers 26: will move'towards' the-roller Z-"and when theanarmsw35 are movedfurther into the tank, the pressure rollers26 will move-away from theroller 2, thus reducingthe pressure betweenthem and the-roller'2.

A pair of guide rollers 39 and 40 are journalled parallel to the roller 2 inuthe upper half of the tank and act as guide rollers aroundrwhich the fabric material-41 being dyed imayrbe guided and tensione'd;

In the operation of this-device; the fabric lengths- 41 enter the tank in a continuous fashion passing beneath the roller 39 and-between the roller 2'rand the pressure rollers 26 and then aroundthe guide rollerfilfi and out of the tank; Allof these .rollers except: rollers 39 and '40 are below the levelof the liquor. Roller 2'draws' the fabric through the liquor by its rotation with a simultaneous torsional oscillation. The angular amplitude of thefrequency of 'the oscillation of this .roller v is somewhata matter ofdesign, .but in view oftthe universally available. 60 cycles alternating current, it has beenfoundmost-convenient=to design? and operate thev torsionallysrcsonantvibrating system at cycles per second. Itwillbe noted that'the'magnetic circuit of the torsionally operating drive shown in United States Patent No. 2,604,503 can readily give this number of pulsations per second to this system when operated from a 60 cycle current.

The angular amplitude on the surface of a six inch diameter roller may readily be made .15 inch through which amplitude the roller would oscillate 120 times per second. Assuming that a machine is designed tooperate at the stated amplitude and frequency and further that the fabric length was moving through the machine at a rate of 15 yards per minute, or nine inches a second, which corresponds to a forward motion of..()75 inch, during a complete cycle of vibration of roller 2 then the fabric would be subjected to four squeezes during the time it is passing between one of the pressure rollers and roller 2. As this device utilizes four pressure rollers, each section of the fabric would be squeezed ten times while submerged in the liquor. Such treatment very effectively brings the dye into intimate contact with the individual fibers and assists them in taking up the desired quantity of dye especially in cases where ready absorption of the dye would not ordinarily take place.

If it is found desirable to give a greater number of squeezes to the fabric than indicated above during the passage of the fabric through the machine, this may readily be done by slowing the speed of the fabric through the machine, by using a greater number of pressure rollers, or by increasing the stroke of the oscillating roll at its surface.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5, the oscillating vibrating rotating roll 2, mounted in the tank 1 immersed in the liquid of the tank, has bearing against'it four squeeze rolls 26', two on either side of the roll 2. These rolls 26" are journalled on shafts 46, 46, on the left of roll 2, and 47, 47 on the right of roll 2, supported by suspending bars 42 for the shafts 46, 46 and 43 for the shafts 47, 47. The bars 42 and 43 are pivoted at the top of the tank in blocks 48 and 49 which are adjustable horizontally between plates 58 and 59 by screws 60 and 61 which secure the block 48 and 49 in place.

These rolls 26' are held to the roll 2 by links 50 and 51 pivoted to bars 42 and 43 at points 44 and 45 between the places of journalling of shafts 46, 46, and 47, 47, on the bars 42 and 43. The links 50 and 51 are connected at their other ends to the cable 52 which passes over pul ley 53 and is operated by lever 55.

The arrangement shown in Figure 4 is at each end of the tank and is operated by the arrangement shown in Figure 5. Here the lever 55, has an operating spring connection 56 connected to the pivoted arm 57' pivoted on the shaft 54 extending lengthwise of the tank. Within the tank the shaft 54 carries a crank arm 57 to the end of which is attached the cable 52 so that when the arm 55 in Figure is rotated clockwise, the end of crank 57 is raised and the arms 50 and 51 are lowered, thus relieving to some extent, the pressure of the rolls 26'against the roll 2. When the arm 55 is moved counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 4, the rolls 26' are drawn closed to the roll 2 and the fabric passing between the rolls 26 and 2 is squeezed to a greater degree. Lever 55 which may be suitably pivotally secured to the end tank wall i provided with a pawl 100 adapted to successively engage the saw teeth 101 which thereby hold the lever 55 in selected positions.

As the torsional oscillation of roller 2 is very rapid, as has been indicated above, it will usually be found helpful to have the surface of this roller somewhat roughened. This may be accomplished by sand blasting if a metallic surface for the roller is found necessary, or by covering the roller with a rubber or similar material which may be roughened to grip the goods and prevent the roll from slipping with respect to it, or by other suitable means.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

l. A means for dyeing fabric in the open width, comprising a tank adapted to contain dye liquor, a roll horizontally journalled within and spaced from the walls of said tank, means for simultaneously rotating and torsionally vibrating said roll, at least one additional rotatable roll parallel to said first mentioned roll and means for pressing said additional rotatable roll and said first mentioned roll into contact with one another.

2. A means for dyeing fabric in a continuous process comprising a tank adapted to contain dye liquor, a rotatable roll horizontally journalled in said tank, means for guiding fabric lengths about said roll, means for simultaneously rotating and torsionally vibrating said roll, at least one rotatable pressure roll, and means supporting said pressure 'roll in parallel tangential pressured contact with said first mentioned roll.

3. A means for dyeing fabrics in a continuous process, comprising a tank adapted to contain dye liquor, a rotatable roll horizontally journalled within and spaced from the walls of said tank, means for torsionally vibrating and simultaneously rotating said roll, a plurality of rotatable pressure rolls in parallel alignment with said first mentioned roll, means for moving said pressure rolls toward said first mentioned roll comprising journal means supporting said pressure rolls, lever arm means supporting and secured to said journal means, and means pivotally supporting said lever arm means for movement of the pressure rolls to and away from said first mentioned roll, said means pivotally supporting said lever arm means having elements for adjustably securing said lever arm means in selected position for fixing the position of said pressure rolls with respect to said first.

mentioned roll.

4. A means for dyeing fabric in a continuous process comprising a tank adapted to contain dye liquor, a rotatable roll horizontally-journalled in said tank, means for torsionally oscillating and simultaneously rotating said roll, two sets of pressure rolls parallel with said first mentioned roll, means for adjustably moving said sets of pressure rolls towards said first mentioned rolls comprising lever arm sections at the ends of each set of pressure rolls having journal means supporting the ends of said pressure rolls, lever arms at one end pivotally supporting said lever arm sections and having their other ends slidably and pivotally secured to said tank, and means for moving said pressure rolls into tangential contact with said first mentioned roll.

5. A means for dyeing fabric in a continuous process comprising a tank adapted to contain dye liquor, a rotatable torsionally vibratable roll horizontally positioned within and spaced from the walls of the tank, two pairs of squeeze rolls, means supporting one pair on one side of the rotatable torsionally vibratable roll, and means for supporting the other pair on the other side of the rotatable torsionally vibratable roll, and means for adjusting the pressure of each pair against said rotatable torsionally vibratable roll.

6. A means for dyeing fabrics in a continuous process comprising a tank adapted to contain dye liquor, a rotatable torsionally vibrating roll horizontally positioned in said tank and adapted to be immersed in a liquid, two pairs of squeeze rolls, lever arm means pivotally supporting independently each of said pair of rolls, and means for jointly operating said lever arms for exerting greater or less pressure against said rotatable torsionally vibrating rolls.

7. A means for dyeing fabrics in a continuous process comprising a tank adapted to contain dye liquor, a rotatable torsionally vibrating roll horizontally positioned within and spaced from the walls of the tank, two pairs of squeeze rolls, a lever arm for and supporting each squeeze roll for movement of said pairs of rolls into tangential contact with said rotatable roll, means for operating each of said pairs of squeeze rolls for exerting greater or less pressure of said squeeze rolls against said rotatable torsionally vibrating roll, comprising a pair of operating bars each pivotally engaging a pair of lever arms with each connected near one end to the lever arm of one roll and intermediate its ends to a lever arm of the other roll of one pair, whereby said squeeze rolls may be pivotally moved toward said vibrating roll.

8. A fabric treating device comprising a supporting structure, a rotatable torsionally vibratable roll horizontally supported by said structure, means for simultaneously rotating and torsionally vibrating said roll, a pair of squeeze rolls tangentially arranged with respect to said rotating roll and with one of said squeeze rolls positioned above the axis of said rotating roll, and means for simultaneously adjusting said squeeze rolls away from or toward said rotating roll for controlling the tangential pressure between said rolls.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for pressing comprises a lever arm pivotally supporting said additional rotating roll, and means for pivoting said lever arm whereby said additional roll is moved toward or away from said first-mentioned roll.

10. A fabric-treating device comprising a supporting structure, a rotatable torsionally vibratable roll horizontally supported by said structure, means for simultaneously rotating and torsionally vibrating said roll, a plurality of pairs of squeeze rolls parallelly positioned with respect to said rotatable roll, supporting arm means pivotally supported toward one end and journalling each pair of squeeze rolls thereby adapted to permit said squeeze rolls to swing toward and away from said rotatable roll, and means connected to said arms for causing said squeeze rolls to move toward and away from said rotatable roll.

11. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a plurality of interconnected lever arms pivotally engaging said supporting arms and a common operatnig member for said interconnected lever arms for simultaneously moving said pairs of squeeze rolls.

12. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein means are provided for adjustably and pivotally securing said one end of said supporting arm means in diiferent positions whereby the normal pressure of said squeeze rolls against said rotatable roll may be changed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS No number Minton Apr. 14, 1832 45,448 Winchell Dec. 13, 1864 76,004 Thompson Mar. 24, 1868 109,385 Clark a Nov. 22, 1870 161,328 Cook Mar. 30, 1875 2,228,853 Skinner Jan. 14, 1941 2,413,559 Greenlees Dec. 31, 1946 2,537,290 Williams et a1 Jan. 9, 1951 2,545,075 Dungler Mar. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 701,228 France Jan. 5, 1931 432,094 Great Britain July 19, 1935 998,843 France Sept. 26, 1951 

